Latest news with #NicolaLockwood
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'I don't know what the mayor will do'
The first election to choose a mayor for Greater Lincolnshire is just weeks away, but some people say they are still unsure what the role is all about. On 1 May voters from North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire council areas along with those covered by Lincolnshire County Council, will pick from six candidates to be the mayor of the Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority (GLCCA). The mayor will be handed powers to take over local transport services, build new infrastructure such as roads or business parks and is expected to drive what is being called the skills agenda, in other words making sure that there are enough opportunities to train the next generation of care workers, plumbers or engineers. But do voters know what their mayor will do for them? Metropolitan areas such as London and Manchester have had mayors for some years, but it seems that Lincolnshire people are still getting used to the idea. In fact, many are yet to turn their minds to the local elections in general, as BBC Lincolnshire has been finding out in Lincoln's Steep Hill. Nicola Lockwood, aged 59, owns and runs Bells Tea Shop. She says "there isn't that much information between everyone". "We've got the county council, city council, the mayor, an MP and I'm not clear what the mayor's responsibilities are," she said. When asked what she wants from the new mayor she says "support for small, independent businesses because we're struggling". "But I don't know if they will have the powers to do that." Blake Francis, aged 27, works in marketing but says that "apart from the polling card coming through" he has not yet really thought much about the local elections. "I'll look into it in a couple of weeks," he said. "The main issues for me would be how public money is being spent and environmental issues." Teaching assistant Christine Bingley said she thought the mayor "was someone with a big chain around their neck opening fetes" and did not realise it held so much power. "It shows my lack of knowledge!" she joked. She says economic growth and jobs is really important to her, alongside health and care provision. "Recently my mum has had to go into respite care and it costs so much money and there aren't enough staff to look after the people," she said. Lewis Gollin, aged 25, runs Sculpt Studios barbers on Steep Hill. He says he "will read up on it all" nearer polling day and will be looking for policies that will make people feel better off. "We haven't lost clients but they are leaving it longer between appointments to keep costs down as people are worried and are trying to save a bit more," he said. Kitchen assistant Sam Mather, aged 40, says he "doesn't know a great deal" about the mayor, believing "ignorance is sometimes bliss". "Immigration is a big issue as I don't think we look after British people enough, not that anyone else is less important, but we seem to take in from all parts of the world and we're not stable enough ourselves." POSTCODE LOOKUP: Check if there is an election in your area SIMPLE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the local elections GET IN TOUCH: Tell us the election issues that matter to you FULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. What is the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral election?
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shop owners think £5 for a coffee could soon become the norm
Could paying £5 for a standard cup of coffee soon become the norm? That's the fear among some coffee shop owners, who say it won't help their business. An organisation that analyses the sector says it could be a reality within two to three years."If we thought that a couple of years ago, we would have laughed at it", says Nicola Lockwood, owner of Bells Tea Shop in Lincoln."I am in quite a lot of [online] groups with coffee shop owners and the chat there is that £5 for a cup of coffee is going to be the norm. In some places, it's already hitting that."Some people have a coffee every day on their way to work. If you add that up over a week, month, year, you are talking a substantial amount of money. "It might make some people think twice about it."In Hull, Karen Wattam, of Garden Village Tearoom, thinks that will not go down well with her customers if the price does reach that."I just think it would be too much," she says."I think we'd lose a lot of business. In Hull, especially where we are, you can't command that much." Jeffrey Young, CEO and founder of Allegra World Coffee Portal, which provides market research for coffee professionals, says the £5 cup of coffee is already the case in some shops."Larger drinks with add-ons, such as syrups and non-dairy milk, often bring the price to £5 already," he says."I remember 20 years ago, we were worried about the tipping point being £2."Here we are now talking about the £5 cup of coffee. Realistically, for the average consumer, it's two or three years away, but for many it is the reality now."The price of coffee on international commodity markets hit its highest level on record in December price for arabica beans, which account for most global production, jumped more than 80% in the year. The cost of robusta beans hit a fresh high in traders said they expected crops to shrink after the world's two largest producers, Brazil and Vietnam, were hit by bad Rooke, executive director of the British Coffee Association, says weather-related issues have had an impact on prices, but that the beans are only part of the equation, with increasing energy, labour and business costs for cafe owners also pushing up higher prices will not be welcomed by consumers, Mr Rooke believes it is good news for producers, who could get a bigger return for their produce. Nicola, whose tearoom is nestled in the heart of the city's Bailgate area and attracts a lot of tourists, charges less than £3 for an Americano coffee, but admits she may have to increase her prices."Coffee prices and chocolate bean prices are going through the roof at the minute," she explains. "There was a little dip, but now it's skyrocketed again. "We are getting messages through from our suppliers saying that the prices are going up and that they are going up significantly."Elsewhere in Lincolnshire, Nic Till, who owns Riverhead Coffee shops in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, says additional extras can push the price over £5 but "cannot see anywhere in North East Lincolnshire that's going to be charging that for a cappuccino or a flat white". Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
